Bronchiectasis Drug Summary

Last updated: 11 March 2026
Reviewed by

Aminoglycosides

Drug Dosage Remarks
Amikacin Adults, children and older infants:
15 mg/kg/day IM/IV as single dose or divided 8-12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • Ototoxic effects (irreversible ototoxicity resulting in hearing loss, dizziness, vertigo); Renal effects (reversible nephrotoxicity, acute renal failure has been reported usually when administered with other nephrotoxic drugs); Neuromuscular effects (neuromuscular blockade resulting in respiratory depression and muscular paralysis)
Special Instructions
  • Use with caution in patients with conditions associated with muscle weakness (eg myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s), patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction, vestibular or cochlear impairment
  • Ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity are most likely in geriatric, dehydrated patients, those with renal impairment, receiving high doses or for long periods, and receiving or have received other ototoxic/nephrotoxic drugs
    • Consider monitoring serum concentrations and/or peak serum concentrations/minimum inhibitory concentration ratio in patients at risk for ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity

Antiasthmatic & COPD Preparations

Drug Dosage Remarks
Salbutamol Children 2-6 years old: 1-2 mg PO 6-8 hourly
Children 6-12 years old: 2 mg PO 6-8 hourly
Children >12 years old: 2-4 mg PO 6-8 hourly
Adults: 2-4 mg PO 6-8 hourly
May be increased up to 8 mg 		Adverse Reactions
  • CV effects (palpitations, tachycardia, peripheral vasodilation); Other effects (fine tremors of skeletal muscle particularly in the hands, nausea, nervousness, restlessness, headache, tensed feeling)
Special Instructions
  • Take 1 hour before or 2 hours after meals
  • Use with caution in patients with thyrotoxicosis, cardiac arrhythmias, coronary insufficiency, hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), pheochromocytoma, hyperthyroidism
Terbutaline Children 12-15 years old: 2.5 mg PO 8 hourly
Adults and children >15 years old: 2.5-5 mg PO 8 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • CV effects (palpitations, tachycardia); CNS effects (dizziness, nervousness, headache, anxiety, restlessness, lethargy, drowsiness); GI effects (nausea/vomiting); Other effects (tremor, flushes, sweating, chest discomfort, muscle cramps, tinnitus)
Special Instructions
  • Use with caution in patients with thyrotoxicosis, CV disorders, hypertension, DM, ketoacidosis, convulsive disorders

Antibacterial Combination

Drug Dosage1 Remarks
Co-trimoxazole
(Sulfamethoxazole [SMZ] and Trimethoprim [TM]) 		Children 6 months-5 years old: 200 mg SMZ/40 mg TM PO 12 hourly
Children 6-12 years old: 400 mg SMZ/80 mg TM PO 12 hourly
Adults and children >12 years old:
800 mg SMZ/160 mg TM PO 12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (nausea/vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, rarely antibiotic-associated diarrhea/colitis, glossitis); Dermatologic effects (rash, pruritus, photosensitivity); Hypersensitivity effects (eg rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome [SJS]); Urogenital effect (crystallization in the urine); Other effects (aseptic meningitis, hepatotoxicity, hematologic effects)
Special Instructions
  • Maintain adequate fluid intake
  • Contraindicated in patients allergic to sulfonamides
  • Use with extreme caution or not at all in patients with hematological disorders especially megaloblastic anemia due to folic acid deficiency
  • Use with caution in patients with renal impairment or severe hepatic dysfunction and with folate deficiency (may consider administration of folinic acid)
1Duration of treatment: 7-10 days minimum. More serious acute exacerbations may require hospitalization and administration of IV antibiotics.

Cephalosporins

Drug Dosage1 Remarks
First Generation
Cefadroxil 500-1,000 mg PO 12 hourly Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (dyspepsia, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, pseudomembranous colitis); Hypersensitivity effects (urticaria, pruritus, rash, angioedema); Hepatic effects (cholestasis, elevated serum transaminase); CNS effects (headache, dizziness); Other effects (genital pruritus, genital moniliasis, vaginitis, moderate transient neutropenia, fever)
Special Instructions
  • May be taken with food to decrease gastric distress
  • Avoid in patients with hypersensitivity to cephalosporins
  • Use with caution in patients allergic to Penicillin and with renal impairment
Cefalexin 250 mg PO 6 hourly or 500 mg PO 8 hourly
Max dose: 4 g/day
Second Generation
Cefaclor Children >1 month: 20-40 mg/kg/day PO divided 8-12 hourly
Max dose: 1 g/day
Adults: 250-500 mg PO 8 hourly
Max dose: 4 g/day 		Adverse Reactions
  • Hypersensitivity effects (urticaria, pruritus, rash, anaphylaxis); GI effects (diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, rarely antibiotic-associated diarrhea/colitis); CNS effects (encephalopathy, convulsions); Hematologic effects (prolonged prothrombin time, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time and/or hypoprothrombinemia [with or without bleeding]); Other effects (candidal infections, hepatic/renal/hematologic effects)
Special Instructions
  • May be taken with food to decrease gastric distress
  • Avoid in patients with hypersensitivity to cephalosporins
  • Use with caution in patients allergic to Penicillin and with renal impairment
Cefminox Children: 20 mg/kg IV injection/infusion 6-8 hourly
Adults: 2 g/day IV injection/infusion divided 12 hourly
May increase up to 6 g/day IV injection/infusion divided 6-8 hourly
Cefotiam Adults: 200-400 mg PO 8-12 hourly or
0.5-2 g/day IV/IM divided 6-12 hourly
Cefuroxime Infants and children <40 kg: 30-100 mg/kg/day divided 6-8 hourly
Adults and children ≥40 kg: 250-500 mg PO 12 hourly or 750 mg-1,500 mg IM/IV 6-8 hourly
Third Generation
Cefditoren pivoxil 100-300 mg PO 8 hourly
Cefixime Children 6 months-10 years old and <50 kg: 8 mg/kg/day PO divided 12-24 hourly
Adults and children ≥50 kg: 200-400 mg/day PO divided 12-24 hourly
Cefpodoxime Adults and children ≥12 years old:
200 mg PO 12 hourly
Ceftazidime Children >1 month-12 years old:
30-50 mg/kg IM/IV 12 hourly
Adults and children ≥40 kg: 1-2 g IV 8-12 hourly
Ceftizoxime Children ≥6 months: 40-80 mg/kg/day IV divided 6-12 hourly
May increase up to 120 mg/kg/day for severe or intractable infections
Adults: 500 mg IM/IV/day divided 6-12 hourly
May increase up to 4 g for severe or intractable infections
1Duration of treatment: 7-10 days minimum. More serious acute exacerbations may require hospitalization and administration of IV antibiotics.

Cough & Cold Preparations

Drug Dosage Remarks
Acetylcysteine Children 2-5 years old: 100 mg PO 8-12 hourly
Children 6-14 years old: 200 mg PO 12 hourly
Adults and children ≥14 years old:
200 mg PO 8-12 hourly or 300 mg PO 12 hourly or 600 mg PO 24 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (GI discomfort, nausea/vomiting); Hypersensitivity effects (bronchospasm, rashes, hypotension)
Special Instructions
  • Should be taken with food
  • Use with caution in patients with gastric or duodenal ulcer

 
Ambroxol Children <2 years old: 7.5 mg PO 12 hourly
Children 2-5 years old: 7.5 mg PO 8-12 hourly
Children 6-10 years old: 7.5-15 mg PO 8-12 hourly
Adults and children >10 years old: 30 mg PO 8-12 hourly
Extended release: 75 mg PO 24 hourly
Bromhexine Children <2 years old: 1 mg PO 8 hourly
Children 2-5 years old: 2 mg PO 8 hourly or 4 mg PO 12 hourly
Children 6-12 years old: 4-8 mg PO 8 hourly
Adults and children >12 years old:
8-16 mg PO 8 hourly
Carbocisteine
(Carbocysteine)		 Children 1-2 years old: 60 mg PO 6 hourly
Children 2-5 years old: 100 mg PO 8 hourly
Children 6-12 years old: 200 mg PO 8 hourly
Adults and children >12 years old:
750 mg PO 8 hourly or 500 mg PO 8 hourly or 375 mg PO 6 hourly
Cyclidrol
(Sobrerol)		 Children >2 years old: 80 mg PO 12 hourly
Adults: 200 mg PO 12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effect (stomach pain); Hypersensitivity effect (rashes)
Special Instruction
  • Use with caution in patients with renal failure
Erdosteine Children 15-19 kg: 175 mg PO 12 hourly
Children 20-30 kg: 175 mg PO 8-12 hourly
Children >30 kg: 175 mg PO 8 hourly or
350 mg PO 12 hourly
Adults: 300 mg PO 8-12 hourly or 350 mg PO 12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (GI discomfort, rarely taste alterations); Other effects (rarely, headache, dyspnea, urticaria, erythema, dermatitis)
Special Instruction
  • Contraindicated in patients with hepatic cirrhosis, hepatic impairment, cystathionine-synthetase enzyme deficiency and severe renal failure
  • Use with caution in patients with history of peptic ulcer
Guaifenesin Children 1-6 years old: 25-50 mg PO 6-8 hourly or 50-100 mg PO 4 hourly
Children 7-12 years old: 50-100 mg PO 6-8 hourly or 100-200 mg PO 4 hourly
Adults and children ≥12 years old:
100-200 mg PO 6-8 hourly or 200-400 mg PO 4 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (GI discomfort, nausea/vomiting)
Special Instruction
  • Use with caution in patients with persistent/chronic cough, asthma, chronic bronchitis/emphysema
  • Discontinue use if cough persists for >7 days with fever, rash or persistent headache

Dipeptidyl Peptidase 1 (DPP1) Inhibitor

Drug Dosage Remarks
Brensocatinib Adults and children >12 years old:
10 mg PO 24 hourly or 25 mg PO 24 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • Dermatologic effects (rash, dry skin, hyperkeratosis); Respiratory effect (upper respiratory tract infection); Other effects (headache hypertension, gingival and periodontal reactions, elevated liver enzymes)
Special Instructions
  • May taken with or without food
  • Avoid use with administration of live attenuated vaccines

Macrolides

Drug Dosage Remarks
Clarithromycin Children 8-11 kg: 125 mg PO 12 hourly
Children 12-19 kg: 250 mg PO 12 hourly
Children 20-29 kg: 375 mg PO 12 hourly
Children 30-40 kg: 500 mg PO 12 hourly
Infants, children and adolescents:
7.5 mg/kg/dose PO 12 hourly
Adults and children >12 years old:
250-500 mg PO 12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (stomach pain, tongue discoloration, oral moniliasis, elevated LFTs, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, stomatitis, glossitis, cholestatic hepatitis, pseudomembranous colitis); CNS effects (headache, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia); Other effects (rashes, SJS, thrombocytopenia, hypoglycemia)
Special Instruction
  • Avoid concomitant administration with Terfenadine
  • Use with caution in patients with renal/hepatic failure
Erythromycin Children: 30-50 mg/kg/day PO divided
8-12 hourly
Adults: 250-500 mg PO 6 hourly or
400-500 mg PO 12 hourly or
800 mg PO 12 hourly
Max dose: 4 g/day 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (abdominal discomfort, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting); Other effects (reversible hearing loss, erythema multiforme)
Special Instruction
  • Contraindicated in patients on Terfenadine, Astemizole, Cisapride, Pimozide, Lovastatin, Simvastatin, ergotamine or dihydroergotamine therapy
  • Use with caution in patients with myasthenia gravis, hepatic impairment
Midecamycin Adults: 900-1,800 mg/day PO divided
8-12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, anorexia, tongue discoloration, glossitis)
Special Instruction
  • Discontinue use if with hypersensitivity symptoms

Other Antibiotics

Drug Dosage Remarks
Colistin
(Colistimethate Na)		 75-150 mg inhaled via nebulizer
12 hourly		 Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (stomach pain, tongue tingling); CNS effects (slurred speech, dizziness, vertigo); Other effects (elevated blood urea nitrogen/creatinine, rash, apnea)
Special Instruction
  • Use with caution in patients with renal impairment

Other Beta-lactams

Drug Dosage Remarks
Meropenem Children >3 months-12 years old and <50 kg: 10-20 mg/kg IV 8 hourly
Adults and children >50 kg: 0.5-1 g IV 8 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, antibiotic-associated diarrhea/colitis, tongue/tooth discoloration, altered taste); Hypersensitivity effects (rash, anaphylaxis, SJS, exfoliative dermatitis); CNS effects (mental disturbances, confusion); Other effect (candidal infections, rarely hepatic effects)
Special Instructions
  • Use with caution in patients allergic to penicillins, cephalosporins or other beta-lactams, patients with renal impairment and CNS disorders (eg epilepsy)

Penicillins

Drug Dosage1 Remarks
Aminopenicillins with or without Beta-lactamase Inhibitors
Amoxicillin Children ≤3 months: 20-30 mg/kg/day PO divided 12 hourly
Children >3 months and <40 kg: 20-50 mg/kg/day PO divided 8-12 hourly
Adults and children ≥40 kg: 250-500 mg PO 8 hourly or 500 mg PO 12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • Hypersensitivity effects (rash, urticaria, pruritus, anaphylaxis); GI effects (diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, rarely antibiotic-associated diarrhea/colitis); Other effect (candidal infections)
  • High doses may be associated with CNS effects (encephalopathy, convulsions)
Special Instructions
  • Avoid in patients with Penicillin allergy
  • Use with caution in patients with renal impairment

 
Amoxicillin/clavulanic
acid (Co-amoxiclav,
Amoxicillin/clavulanate) 		Children <40 kg: 20 mg/5 mg/kg/day to 60 mg/15 mg/kg/day PO divided 8 hourly
Adult and children ≥40 kg: 375-625 mg PO 8 hourly or 625-1,000 mg PO 12 hourly
Antipseudomonal Penicillins with or without Beta-lactamase Inhibitors
Piperacillin/tazobactam
 Children 2-9 months old: 80 mg/kg IV 8 hourly based on Piperacillin
Childn ≥9 months old or up to 40 kg: 100 mg/kg IV 8 hourly based on Piperacillin
Adults: 3.375 g IV infusion 6 hourly or
4.5 g IV infusion 8 hourly
Max dose: 12 g Piperacillin/1.5 g tazobactam
Ticarcillin/clavulanic
acid (Ticarcillin/clavulanate) 		Children <60 kg: 200-300 mg/kg/day IV divided 4-6 hourly based on Ticarcillin
Adults and children ≥60 kg: 3.1 g/day IV 4-6 hourly
Antistaphylococcal Penicillin
Cloxacillin Children ≤2 years old: 125 mg PO 6-8 hourly
Children 3-10 years old: 250 mg PO 6-8 hourly
Adults: 250-500 mg PO 6 hourly
1Duration of treatment: 7-10 days minimum. More serious acute exacerbations may require hospitalization and administration of IV antibiotics.

Quinolones

Drug Dosage1 Remarks
Ciprofloxacin 250-750 mg PO 12 hourly or
200-400 mg IV 8-12 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • GI effects (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia); CNS effects (headache, dizziness, sleep disorders, restlessness, drowsiness); Dermatologic effects (rash, pruritus, photosensitivity); Other effect (hypersensitivity reaction)
  • Some quinolones have the potential to prolong the QT interval
Special Instructions
  • Administer at least 2 hours before or 3 hours after Al- or Mg-containing antacids, dietary supplements containing Zn or Fe or buffered Didanosine preparations
  • Avoid exposure to strong sunlight or tanning beds
  • Use with caution in patients with epilepsy or history of CNS disorders, impaired renal or hepatic function and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
Levofloxacin 250-500 mg PO 12-24 hourly or
750 mg PO 24 hourly
Ofloxacin 100-200 mg PO 8-12 hourly
1Duration of treatment: 7-10 days minimum. More serious acute exacerbations may require hospitalization and administration of IV antibiotics.

Tetracyclines

Drug Dosage Remarks
Doxycycline 200 mg PO as a single
dose or divided 12 hourly
initially then 100 mg/day
PO 24 hourly 		Adverse Reactions
  • Dermatologic effect (photosensitivity); GI effects (nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, antibiotic-associated diarrhea/colitis, dysphagia, esophageal ulceration may occur when taken with an insufficient amount of liquid); Other effects (candidal infections, discoloration of teeth, interference with bone growth in young infants/pregnant women)
Special Instructions
  • Avoid long exposure to sunlight or tanning beds
  • Take with plenty of fluid while sitting or standing and before retiring to bed
  • Avoid in children ≤8 years old and pregnant women, and in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Use with caution in renal or hepatic impairment

Disclaimer

All dosage recommendations are for non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding women, and non-elderly adults with normal renal and hepatic function unless otherwise stated.  
Not all products are available or approved for above use in all countries.  
Products listed in the Drug Summary are based on indications stated in the locally approved product monographs.   
Please refer to local product monographs in Related MIMS Drugs for country-specific prescribing information.  

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